GANGA

  The Ganga, especially, is the river of India, beloved of her
 people, round which are intertwined her memories, her hopes
 and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and her
 defeats. She has been a symbol of India's age-long culture
 and civilization, ever changing, ever flowing, and yet ever
 the same Ganga.
- Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India, born
 in Allahabad on the Ganges.  

Ganga Ghats

From the snowpeaks of its source in Himalaya to its mouth in the Bay of Bengal, covering a course of about 2525 km, the Ganga river flows from south to north in a crescent form only in Varanasi. The 6.5 km (4 miles) long riverfront of river Ganga, the eastern edge of the city, possesses a unique history, specific vision of magnificent architectural row of lofty buildings and holy sites. Says Sherring (1868,p.9): "For picturesqueness and grandeur, no sight in all the world can well surpass that of Benares as from the river Ganges". There are 84 Ghats (stairways to the riverbank), forming a symbolic chain of holy sites.In archetypal terms each ghats represents 100,000 of the organic species(yonis) as described in Hindu mythologies.Thus by taking holy dips in the Ganga at all the ghats the individual soul can get purified in all the 8,400,000 species.

Among the 84 ghats the 5 described as more merit giver and sacred, called Panchatirthis, are - Asi,Dashashwamedh, Manikarnika, Panchaganga and Adi Keshava. Taking holy dip at these five ghats provides merit of bathing at all the ghats.These five ghats symbolise microcosmic body of Vishnu, respectively as head, chest, navel, thighs and the feet. Thus the area along the ghats is eulogised as Vishnu's body.

Assi Ghat :Assi Ghat, today known as Assi Ghat marks the Southern Ghat of the City Varanasi. The palatial buildings were under the patronage of Marathas during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The great Saint Goswami Tulsidas composed the famous epic “Ramacharitmanas” at this ghat his soul departed for heavenly abode. The temple of Asi Sangameshwar marked with a marble plaque establishes the Puranic heritage of the site. Worship of Sanghmeshwar Mahadev after a holy dip in the sacred river Ganga is an integral part of Panchkoshi Yatra (Pilgrimage of Varanasi).

Dashashwamedh Ghat : Dashashwamedh Ghat is one of the Panchatirthis, five most sacred ghats of Varanasi. Located in the heart of the city, Dashashwamedh Ghat is divided into two parts in between exists Prayag ghat. Myth logically Lord Brahma performed ten horses Yagya here and named it Dashashwamedh i.e. Dus Ashva Medh – ten horse yagya. This ghat is presumed to be the first historically recorded site associated with the horse sacrifice performed by the Bhara Shiv Nagas King in around 3^rd Century CE. Balaji Bajirao built the present form of this ghat in 1748 and later in Ca.1775 Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore. There are temples of Dashashwamedheshwar, Dashadheshwar and Mother Ganga.Since 1992, on this sacred ghat every morning and evening, with an objective to promote world peace, prosperity, social harmony, and an awareness for environmental protection Divine Ganga Aarti is organised by Ganga Seva Nidhi. Pilgrims, tourists and people partake in this mesmerizing religious and cultural event daily.

Manikarnika Ghat : Manikarnika the central points of the ghats – the very pivot of the religious life of Benaras. Manikarnika Ghat, famous for cremation has two parts – the Southern for cremation and the down stream for the other sacred activities. Start walking from the southern part, one sees the temple of Tarakeshvara , the form of Lord Shiva giving liberation (Taraka). There is the holy spot of Charanapaduka,a slab of marble representing the footprints of Lord Vishnu , and is assumed as the holiest spot in this sacred city.

Panchganga Ghat : One of the Panchatirthis, five most sacred Ghats of Varanasi. The name Panchganga is the symbol of the confluence of five rivers at this ghat, i.e. the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Saraswati and the two rivulets the Dhutpapa and the Kiran.

Panchganga Snan, a holy dip in Panchganga and lighting of Aakash-Deep (a ritual offering oil lamps to ancestors to enlighten their journey to heaven) during Karttika month and Dev-Dipavali Mahotsav on the day of Karttika Purnima are living examples of enriched cultural and religious tradition of India.

There are monastries of Ramanand the Guru of Sufi saint Kabir, Tailang Swami, Satyabhama and Vallabhacharya Ji. The Alamgir mosque in this area is a converted form of 11^th century Lord Vishnu temple which was demolished and transformed into the mosque in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The original temple of Lord Vishnu , a black marble idol is kept in nearby house of Laxman Bela, now known as Bindu Madhav temple. The idols of Lord Vishnu, Garun and Lord Hanuman are also there.

Adikeshav Ghat: Adikeshav ghat is at the confluence of river Varuna and Ganga. This ghat was the place where Lord Vishnu first placed his holy feet in the territory of Lord Shiva. The temple close to the Varuna confluence consists of the images of Lord Adikeshav, Sangameshvara, Brameshvara and Keshavaditya.

Divine Ganga

Maa, Goddess, Giver of Life, Cleanser of Sins, the Holy Ganga is no more venerated than here in Varanasi.The divine fountain that once flowed from Gomukh (the Holy Cave) in the Himalayas to Ganga Sagar (Bay of Bengal) down the centuries became an immortal witness to life and culture along its banks giving rise to the rich Indo-Gangetic Civilization.The city-Varanasi-that defies deluge (Mahapralaya), has to bear the brunt of modern civilization, growing urbanization, extreme materialism, deteriorating socio-ethical values, rising population and pollution. Today the Divine Ganga has been severely degraded and dangerously polluted. If serious and immediate steps are not taken the situation might worsen.The Ganga Seva Nidhi felt the need of the hour and emerged with the spirit of Renaissance to revive and preserve the purity, sanctity and divinity of Ganga and Kashi.

Ganga Seva Nidhi founded in 1992 by Shri Satyendra Mishra, is a philanthropic Non-Governmental Organization registered under the Amended Societies Registration Act 1860 with Registration No. 207. Ganga Seva Nidhi is committed to arouse public consciousness and create social awareness of environmental degradation and pollution with special emphasis on Ganga, Ghats and Kashi.

Ganga, originated from ‘Gomukh’, the holy cave of the Himalayas, and went on to become the heart-throb of whole northern India. Down the centuries it became an immortal witness to life and development. It gave rise to the rich Indo-Gangetic Civilization. From Rigvedic time to the present era, Ganga has been worshipped and venerated for the fulfillment of fourfold aims of life-Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. The Vedas, Puranas, Smritis and the Nibandha-Mahatmya are replete with accolades of the sacred Ganga, the purifier of all sins and remover of all ill effects of Papa, Tapa and Shapa.

To the theists or atheists, Ganga has always been a source of inspiration to Mankind. The divine river that conjure up the vision of a great civilization is an integral part of our legend, religion, culture, history, geography and environment. In its long journey, from Gomukh to Ganga Sagar (Bay of Bengal), the mighty river has been the source of sustenance for the teeming millions and weaves itself into the lives of men and the flora and fauna. The growth and development of this civilization took centuries. However, several factors, like improper planning, indiscriminate industrialization, destruction of the wetland ecosystems and lack of environmental conciousness, have been responsible over the last few decades for polluting Ganga, alarmingly. The belief that the sins can be washed away merely by taking dips in this holy water has also contributed to pollution of Ganga, Nearly six hundred kilometers of Ganga, which traverse an area of 2,525 kilometers, covering as much as a quarter of India’s landmass, is dangerously polluted. If serious and immediate steps are not taken the situation might worsen.The life-giving Ganga descended on the earth (according to a Puranic tale) for the salvation of the ancestors of King Bhagirath, who were suffering under a curse from Lord Vishnu. Her incarnation on earth was the result of an intense tapasya (prayer) of Bhagirath. If the river Ganga is to be restored to its pristine glory, of purity and divinity, and sublimity and serenity, vigorous efforts like that of Bhagirath need to be made.

Save Ganga to save Urself

Tens of thousands of Hindus come to India from many corners of the globe every year solely for Mother Ganga. Some come to submerge the ashes of their beloved in the holy river for salvation. In a few weeks, hundreds of NRIs will visit the river goddess to perform annual 'shraddhs', or prayers for the departed souls of their loves ones. Most devout Hindus visit the river to take a holy dip to wash away their sins.

But Mother Ganga has been silently dying for over 25 years. Today she is dying at the place she was born. At Gaumukh, the glacier is shrinking 20 metres every year due to global warming. At this rate, warn geologists, the Ganga would be dead in a thousand years. On a recent visit, I saw the Ganga waters clear, blue and white at Rishikesh. Just 20 km away, at Haridwar, this nectar from the gods is muddy and red as the river gets polluted and lacks oxygen.

Downstream from here onwards, the waters get really dirty and polluted. Millions bathe in it every year, cremate their dead on the riverbank, push in half-burnt corpses, bathe their animals, carcasses, and throw plastic bags with garlands and ash as offering to their 'mother'. Cities, towns and villages on its banks dump their garbage and empty their sewers. Across the plains, the industries on its banks deposit huge amounts of toxic residues and chemical wastage while pesticide residues come from riverside farms. Gradually, its water becomes severely polluted and contaminated with bacteria.

For almost 25 years, many attempts have been made by the government of India, the state governments and NGOs to clean the Ganga but with limited results. The box office success of Raj Kapoor's film 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' in 1985, the sex appeal of its actress Mandakini and its popular songs could not rescue the river over the last two decades.

'In its 2,525-km flow, the Ganga passes through 29 cities and 70 towns,' said Vijay Bhatkar, a noted Indian scientist. 'It is alarming to see the Ganga getting polluted in its course, progressively more in every kilometre it surges through. Recognising the great importance of the Ganga, the Indian government launched the Ganga Action Plan in 1985. Although there have been some noteworthy successes in this project, it is highly alarming to see that even after 20 years of the Ganga Action Plan being in force, the Ganga still remains polluted.'

The Ganga Action Plan, funded by international donors, has achieved limited success with its 261 programmes across the entire length and breadth of the river. Under this plan, the upper regions of the Gangotri glacier are being reforested and the river is being cleaned. In February this year, a protest march was held to urge the president and the prime minister of India to form a high-powered committee to save the Ganga and the Himalayas. Nothing has been heard of this initiative since then.

Clearly a new global initiative is urgently needed in the new century to save this soul of India. The NRIs with their networking and teamwork could be the saviours. The expertise, knowledge and experience of eminent NRI scientists, environmentalists, engineers and experts in every field working all over the globe are sorely required to provide professional inputs for this mammoth task.

The powerful Hindu NRI organisations in the US, Britain, the Middle East, East Africa and the Far East can launch, coordinate and implement this project in this era of internet and instant response. If these NRI organisations can spend millions of dollars to construct beautiful temples across the globe, they can also pitch in their resources to save the most sacred river for all Hindus.

This integrated 'Save Ganga' project can embark on cleaning the Ganga from its source, Gaumukh, to Ganga Sagar where it flows into the Bay of Bengal. In this challenging task, the professional advice and guidance from NRIs is crucial as they have the latest and the appropriate knowledge and solutions on how to tackle this task.

At every NRI conference, NRI professionals offer their knowledge to serve India; here is an environment project that is also spiritually very precious. More than telling the mystical stories of the origins of this sacred river as part of their heritage to their children, it is better to contribute in some form to save the river that is in dire distress. Now Mother Ganga calls NRIs in desperation to save her urgently. Will NRIs respond?

GANGA : Soul Of India

To millions of Indians, Ganga or Ganges isn't just a river. It is a symbol of their civilization...

Ganga or Ganges, as the world outside India knows it, isn't just another river for millions of Hindus. It is a representative of a culture as old as human civilization. As a Sadhu (holy man), Narayanswamy, who has been meditating on the banks of the river Ganga for over 25 years once told me, "Ganga is our mother. It represents everything we believe in, our faith in God and in destiny. It is a prayer and a symbol of everything that an Indian stands for."

A Day In Rishikesh

We were sitting at the corner of a huge bridge called the Laxman Jhoola at the holy city of Rishikesh (translated: Where Rishis Live), in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. This bridge is strung out of iron girders and ropes that swing with every single footstep and connects the holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh. Local folklore says that the bridge has been there for the last 5000 years. It has exited through turbulence, through floods, drought and wars. Below us flowed the pristine White River the mighty Ganga, placid at some places, gently caressing the rocks at others and sweeping downstream with a deafening roar at some other points. On both sides of the bank, I could see tiny villages that have existed since the time Ganga has existed on earth. Like the Avani village, a little upstream of Ganga, which traces its history back to almost 5000 years. The oldest man in this village is Shekhar Dubey, the sarpanch or the head. 95 years old, stooped, deep lines marking his face. "My father used to say that we trace our roots back to when Lord Rama (the legendary King of Ayodhya Sri Rama) lived. We have grown up on stories about Ram ji and his brave exploits. For us, Ganga maiya (mother) is the only source of livelihood. We have our boats running between Haridwar and Rishikesh, we get our water from Ganga, she even nourishes our fields of paddy."

Steeped In History

Everything around Ganga is steeped in history. There are rock-strewn banks and their ghats where men and women wash their sins, and pray that they go to heaven. Behind that are dark, looming mountains, through which the Ganga flows. On that dew drenched, cold morning, sitting with an orange lungi-clad Sadhu, who had very little besides that piece of cloth to protect him from the biting cold, I glimpsed what it may mean to be the river of consciousness. What it may mean to be a symbol of an entire civilization. Further ahead, upstream, at the holy city of Haridwar, a puja is performed every evening on the banks of Ganga. As the sun sets, millions of lamps are lit in the temples around the riverbank. Devotees float diyas on the river, asking the Mother Goddess for a wish.

Origins

Legend has it that the ruler of Ayodhya, King Sagar, an ancestor of the legendary King Rama, performed the Aswamedh Yagya 99 times. During the sacrifice, a horse was let loose. The area the horse covered before he returned, rightfully belonged to the King. And if the horse was caught by in any other kingdom, the King of that region would have to defeat the one who was organising the Yagya in order to retain his land. Each time King Sagar sent a horse, it returned to his kingdom unchallenged. But at the last Aswamedha sacrifice, Indira the King of Gods, in an act of jealousy, kidnapped and hid the horse in the hermitage of the sage Kapila Muni. Sixty thousand sons of King Sagar came to the hermitage in search of the horse, and mistaking Kapila Muni to be the abductor, attacked him. An enraged Kapila Muni burnt the princes to ashes. One of the grandchildren of King Sagar, hearing about the plight of his father and uncles, begged the powerful Muni to bring his family back to life. The sage advised the prince that the waters of the river Ganga, which flowed in the heavens, would miraculously bring back the dead princes to life. A descendant off King Sagar, Bhagiratha offered penance and prayers. These were rewarded and the Ganga rushed to the earth. However, the might of the river was too much for the earth to withstand. Fearing a catastrophe, Bhagiratha prayed to Lord Shiva for help. Lord Shiva held out his matted hair to catch the river as she descended, and thus stopped the Ganga from flooding the earth. Bhagiratha patiently led the river down to the sea from the mighty Himalayan mountains. However, being unable to locate the exact spot where the ashes lay, he requested Ganga to follow her own course.

Course of Ganga

Ganga divided herself into a hundred mouths that form the Ganges delta. One of these streams washed the ashes, and offered salvation to the souls of the 60, 000 dead princes. The island, where the ashes lie, is referred to as Sagar Islands, just beyond Haridwar. The perennial river originates in the mighty Himalayas, flows through the Northern Plains of India and drains into the Bay of Bengal. Upstream, the river dons several names. It is Mandakini, it is Alaknanda, it is Bhagirathi and it is Vishnu Ganga. As the road upstream rises higher, the Ganga shelters in narrower valleys, places one can't even see, within the confines of dense jungle where only wild animals are its companions. The river originates at Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier right at the top of the Himalayas, drop by drop, in trickles. Gaumukh is the snout of the Gangotri glacier, shaped like a cow's mouth, hence the name. Beginning at an altitude of 14, 100 feet above sea level, the glacier runs down 30 kms to an altitude of 1000 feet above sea level. The Ganga flows through the state of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, through the ancient pilgrimage towns of Benares and Prayag that marks the confluence of the river Yamuna with the Ganga. This place is considered so holy, that it is believed that if one bathes here all his sins are wiped away. It is also believed that a dip taken during the Kumbh Mela helps one attain Moksha (freedom from the cycle of life and death). About 250 kms, before merging with the ocean, the river divides itself into several streams and drains into the Bay of Bengal. Also merging with the Ganga here is the river Brahmaputra. The Ganga assumes other names here, such as the Padma and the Meghna.

Why Is The Ganga Dying

There was a time when the only way to reach Gangotri was by walking over mountains and across plains. Now, a road takes you to the doorstep of Gangotri. And with the road have come modern civilization and its vices. On the road you find Pepsi stalls, idli dosa counters, a couple of run down restaurants and a few luxury buildings. Here you see the decay. All around you have Pepsi cans and all sorts of plastic bags. Ganga is dying at the place it was born. The glacier is receding. Several years of geological research shows that the snout, the Gaumukh, has been shrinking at a rate of 20 meters per year thanks to the phenomenon of global warming and the effect of the greenhouse producing gases. Geologists fear that Ganga would be dead in the next thousand years, if this trend continues. Ganga is also dying because of the pollution and the dirt in it. A few million bathe in the river every year. They even burn their dead at the riverbank. You will see several half-burnt corpses floating in the river at some places. They bathe their animals in the river. And throw garlands and ash wrapped in plastic bags into what they consider their mother. There are other signs of doom. The travelers and the devout, who come to the holy cities situated along the Ganga, bring with them plastic bags, petrol fumes, and other dregs of modernity. Behind the shops and hotels are huge mountains of garbage that seep into the river. To add to that there are a few hundred thousand of small industries along the riverbank that dump their industrial waste into the river. The once verdant jungles lie stripped of their thick pines and conifer trees at places. The valley through which the Ganga flows is no longer green, and at some points dead wood and shrubs mark the graveyard of the once lush Devdar trees. The wood has been cut to make houses and is used as fuel. At Rishikesh, the Ganga waters are blue and white, pristine clear. You can actually look at the bottom of the river and see the marine life that exists. 20 kms away, in Haridwar, the river turns muddy red and carries the stench of civilization. The water is still cool and refreshing, but only at the surface. Ganga at Haridwar is polluted and starved of oxygen.

Efforts to Save The Holy River

Amongst the apparent doom, there is still hope. For years, the Ganga Pollution Control Board has been struggling to save the river. It has launched the Ganga Action Plan, heavily funded by international funding agencies. The plan is divided into 261 programmes across the entire length and breadth of the river. Under the plan, the upper regions of Gangotri glacier are being reforested. And the river is being cleaned with the help of cleansing agents.

GANGA

   The Ganga, especially, is the river of India, beloved of her
   people, round which are intertwined her memories, her hopes
   and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and her
   defeats. She has been a symbol of India's age-long culture
   and civilization, ever changing, ever flowing, and yet ever
   the same Ganga.
 - Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India, born
   in Allahabad on the Ganges.  

Sacred Ganga (Ganges)

S acredGanga

Introduction
The Ganges River is a river of northern India and Bangladesh. The river has a long history of reverence in India and is worshipped by Hindus as a goddess. It often called the 'holy Ganga'.

The total length of the river is about 2,510 km (1,557 mi). Along with another river Yamuna, it forms a large and fertile basin, known as the Gangetic plains, stretching across north India and Bangladesh, and supports one of the highest densities of human population in the world. Indeed, about one in every 12 people on earth (8.5% of world population) live in its catchment area. Due to this incredible co

ncentration of population, pollution and the destruction of habitats is a matter of serious concern.

It is not only in Hinduism that water has been treated as an object of reverence. Water has been considered pious not only in Hindu scriptures but in Holy Bible (Genesis 1:1-20), Quran (Sura-21.30 & 25.54). In Bible bathing in "Live (flowing) water" is referred to as ritual bath. Live water is one that flows down from the hills (river). In Mahabharata, XIII.27.48.52, Ganga water is treated at par with elixir of Gods. In Skand Puran V.1(ii).62.53, Ganga water is referred to be endowed with characteristics of Ambrosia. It is also believed that river Ganga has taken birth from the water pitcher of Lord Brahma. Ganga is supposed to be the archetype of sacred water. Ganga is the symbol of fertility and has purifying powers.

The Gangotri Glacier in the Uttarakhand Himalayas is the origin of the Bhagirathi river, which joins the Alaknanda river at Devaprayag, also in the Uttarakhand Himalayas, to form the Ganga. The river then flows through th

e Himalayan valleys and emerges into the north Indian plain at the town of Haridwar. This section sees extensive Whitewater rafting and kayaking from September to March.

It is Bharat's most sacred river that is considered to wash all the sins or the effects of bad deeds and is known also as Surasarita (the stream of Gods), Bhagirathi, Jahnavi etc. Coming out of the Gomukha cavity of the snowy glacier Gangotri, in Himalaya, and playing with the mountain peaks it enters on the plain at Haridwar and sanctifying Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal with its holy flow reaches and meets the ocean the portion of which is known as Gangasagara (because of the event ). According to the NadiSukta of the Rgveda, Ganga is the very first and foremost of the rivers of Bharat. On the banks of Ganga are situated many well known places of pilgrimage such as Haridwar, Prayag and Kashi. On its banks, from the very beginning of time many of the Rishis, Munis and Tapasvis have been performing their spiritual endeavours.

The water of Ganga is an object of comparison for purity and unsulliness. This has been fully established through scientific experiments that its capacity to get cleaned automatically is the highest among the waters drawn from all other world sources. Hindus consider this river to be the Mother and address it as Ganga maiya i.e. Mother (Goddess) Ganga. According to its account in the Purana, Ganga having had its start from the feet of Visnu entered in the Kamandalu (water carrier) of Brahma, descending from where it had been retained by Shiva in His matted hairs rolled up over His head and from there king Bhagirath, of the Sagar dynasty, brought it to earth with a view to bring salvation to his ancestors. In the Bhagavata Purana the story of the descent of Ganga has been told in a detailed manner. According to the Aditya Purana the descent of Ganga on earth took place on the third day of the brighter fortnight of the month of Vaisakha and its exit from Himalaya occured on the tenth day of the brighter fortnight of the month of Jyestha (falling in the month of May). That day is celebrated as the festival of Ganga Dasahara by having dip in Ganga by millions of people.

The Ganga has an exalted position in the Hindu ethos. It is repeatedly invoked in the Vedas, the Puranas, and the two Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata Ganga is a goddess, Ganga devi, one of two daughters of Meru (the Himalayas), the other being Uma, consort of Shiva. In her youth, Indra had asked for Ganga to be given to heaven to soothe the Gods with its cool waters. The story of its descent to earth appears in slightly different forms in Ramayana (Bala Kanda: Vishwamitra narrates it to the child Rama), Mahabharata (Aranya Parba: Agastya narrates it to Rama), and in the Puranas. These myths are variously dated between 2000 to 400 BC.

Ganga in Vedas

The Ganga is definitely mentioned in the Rig-Ved, the earliest and theoretically the holiest of the Hindu scriptures. The Ganga is mentioned in the nadistuti (Rig Veda 10.75), which lists the rivers from east to west. In RV 6.45.31, the word Ganga is also mentioned, but it is not clear if the reference is to the river.

RV 3.58.6 says that "your ancient home, your auspicious friendship, O Heroes, your wealth is on the banks of the Jahnavi (JahnAvyAm)". This verse could possibly refer to the Ganga.[1] In RV 1.116.18-19, the Jahnavi and the Gangetic dolphin occur in two adjacent verses. [2] [3]

During the early Indo-Aryan Ages, the Indus and the Saraswati were the major rivers, not the Ganga. But the later three Vedas seem to give much more importance to the Ganga, as shown by its numerous references.


Hindus also believe life is incompolete without bathing in the Ganga atleast once in their lifetime.

Ganges Canal
Ganges Canal was dug from Haridwar to Kanpur in later half of 19th century and a very wide network of small tributary canals were constructed from the main canal to act as source of irrigation in the fertile plains of Western Uttar Pradesh. University of Roorkee was established at Roorkee to train Civil Engineers who could oversee the construction of this canal. This canal is still supplying water to thousands of villages in western Uttar Pradesh and water of Ganga, flowing in this canal, is in true sense the life line of western Uttar Pradesh an area which played a central role in the Green revolution of India and water of Ganga played a vital role in this endeavor. Sources and TributariesThe Gangotri Glacier, a vast expanse of ice five miles by fifteen, at the foothills of the Himalayas (14000 ft) in North Uttar Pradesh, is the source of Bhagirathi, which joins with Alaknanda (origins nearby) to form Ganga at the craggy canyon-carved town of Devprayag. Interestingly, the sources of Indus and the Brahmaputra are also geographically fairly close; the former goes through Himachal Pradesh and fans out through Punjab and Sind (Pakistan) into the Arabian Sea. The latter courses for most of its tremendous length under various names through Tibet/China, never far from the Nepal or Indian borders, and then takes a sharp turn near the northeastern tip of India, gathers momentum through Assam before joining the major stream of the Ganga near Dacca in Bangladesh to become the mighty Padma, river of joy and sorrow for much of Bangladesh. From Devprayag to the Bay of Bengal and the vast Sunderbans delta, the Ganga flows some 1550 miles, passing (and giving life to) some of the most populous cities of India, including Kanpur (2 million), Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, and Calcutta (14 million). Dacca, the capital of Bangladesh is on a tributary of the Brahmaputra, just before it joins the Ganga to form Padma. A large number of tributaries join and flow from the Ganges to drain the Northern part of India and Bangladesh.

The Yamuna, which originates less than a hundred miles east of the Bhagirathi, flows parallel to the Ganga and a little to the south for most of its course before merging with the Ganga at the holy city of Allahabad, also known as Triveni Sangam (literally, Three-way Junction, the third river being the mythical Saraswati which is also supposed to be an underground river). New Delhi, capital of India, and Agra, site of the Taj Mahal, are two of the major cities on the Yamuna.

Course of the Holy Ganga

The perennial river Ganga originates in the mighty Himalayas and flows through the Northern Plains of India and drains into the Bay of Bengal. The Northern plains of India have been shaped by the rich alluvial deposits carried by the river over a vast period of time.

The Ganga is associated with the legend of the penance carried out by King Bhagirata to bring the heavenly river down to the earth.

The Ganga has its source in the Gangotri glacier in the lofty Himalayas at a height of about 14000 feet above sea level. Bindu -Sar - near Gangotri is referred to as the spot where Bhagirata is believed to have carried out his penances.

At its origin, the river is referred to as Bhagirati. The Jahnavi and the Alakananda merge with the Ganga in the Himalayas. On the banks of the Alakananda is the ancient Himalayan pilgrimage town of Badrinath. Heading down through Rishikesh, the river descends down to the plains at Haridwar - also referred to as Gangadwara.

Ganga in Rishikesh

The Ganga then flows through the state of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar through the ancient pilgrimage towns of Benares and Prayag. Prayag (Triveni Sangamam) marks the confluence of the river Yamuna with the Ganga.

About 250 miles before reaching the ocean, the river divides itself into several streams, and drains into the Bay of Bengal. Also merging with the Ganga here is the river Bhramaputra. The Ganga assumes other names such as the Padma and the Meghna.

One of the islands at the mouth of the river Ganga is the Gangasagar - said to be the location of the hermitage of Kapila Muni, who is associated with the legend of Bhagiratha and the descent of the river Ganga.

Ganga in Shivpuri, Uttarakhand

Ganga temples and tourism
The Indian system of beliefs is based on an intimate relationship with nature. An offshoot of this is the reverence accorded to rivers as a gesture of acknowledgement of their life sustaining abilities in primarily agrarian societies. Perennial rivers such as the Ganges have been held in high regard since time immemorial.

Rishikesh - Gateway to the Himalayas. Experience the might of the Ganges and the serene atmosphere of Rishikesh where all Himalayan pilgrimages begin.

Holy Ganga

Haridwar - where the Ganges is revered. Visit Haridwar in the foothills of the Himalayas and experience the Aarti to the Ganges, when the entire riverside is lit up with the glow of hundreds of lamps.

Rafting on Ganga near Rishikesh

Ganga Sagar - at the confluence of the Ganga with the ocean is an ancient pilgrimage site associated with Kapilamuni.

Famous Tehri Dam on Holy Ganga

Course

The Ganges originates in the Himalayas after the confluence of six rivers – Alaknanda meets Dhauliganga at Vishnuprayag, Mandakini at Nandprayag, Pindar at Karnaprayag, Mandakini at Rudraprayag and finally Bhagirathi at Devaprayag(from here onwards, it is known as Ganga) in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Out of the five, the Bhagirathi is held to be the source stream originating at the Gangotri Glacier at an elevation of 7,756 m (25,446 ft). The streams are fed by melting snow and ice from glaciers including glaciers from peaks such as Nanda Devi and Kamet.

After travelling 200 km through the Himalayas, the Ganges emerges at the pilgrimage town of Haridwar in the Shiwalik Hills. At Haridwar, a dam diverts some of its waters into the Ganges Canal, which links the Ganges with its main tributary, the Jamuna. The Ganges which till this point flows in a south-western direction now begins to flow in a south-eastern direction through the plains northern India.

From Haridwar the river follows an 800 km (500 mi) winding course passing through the city of Kanpur, before being joined by the Yamuna from the southwest at Allahabad. This point, known as the Sangam, is a sacred place in Hinduism. According to ancient Hindu texts, at one time a third river, the Sarasvati River, met the two rivers at this point.^[1]

Joined by numerous rivers such as the Kosi, Son, Gandak and Ghaghra, the Ganges forms a formidable current in the stretch between Allahabad and Malda in West Bengal. On its way it passes the towns of Mirzapur, Varanasi, Patna and Bhagalpur. At Bhagalpur, the river meanders past the Rajmahal Hills, and beings to change course southwards. At Pakaur, the river begins its first attrition with the branching away of its first distributary, the River Bhagirathi, which goes on to form the River Hooghly. Close to the border with Bangladesh, the Farakka Barrage, built in 1974 controls the flow of the Ganges, diverting some of the water into a feeder canal linking the Hooghly to keep it relatively silt free.

After entering Bangladesh, the main branch of the Ganges is known as Padma River until it is joined by the Jamuna River the largest distributary of the Brahmaputra. Further downstream, the Ganges is fed by the Meghna River, the second largest distributary of the Brahmaputra and takes on its name entering the Meghna Estuary. Fanning out into the 350 km (220 mi) wide Ganges Delta, it empties out into the Bay of Bengal. Only two rivers, the Amazon and Congo have a higher discharge than the combined flow of the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Surma-Meghna river system.

Other Mythological Associations

According to the Hindu scriptures like Skanda Purana, the goddess Ganga is foster-mother to Karttikeya (Murugan), who was actually a son of Shiva and Parvati.

According to Brahma Vaivarta Purana 2.6.13-95 Vishnu has three wives, who constantly quarrel with each other, so that eventually, he keeps only Lakshmi, giving Ganga to Shiva and Saraswati to Brahma.

The Hindu epic, Mahabharata tells that the Vasus, cursed by Vashishta had requested Ganga to be their mother. Ganga incarnated and became the wife of King Santanu on condition that at no stage shall he question her actions, or she would leave him.. As seven Vasus were born as their children, one after the other, Ganga drowned them in her own waters, freeing them from their punishment and the king made no opposition. Only when the eighth was born did the king finally oppose his wife, who therefore left him. So the eighth son, Dyaus incarnated, remained alive, imprisoned in mortal form, and later became known in his mortal incarnation as Bhishma (Devavrata), who is one of the most respected characters of the Mahabharata.

GANGA IN HINDU MYTH

The Ganga has an exalted position in the Hindu ethos. It is repeatedly invoked in the Vedas, the Puranas, and the two Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Ganga is a goddess, Ganga devi, one of two daughters of Meru (the Himalayas), the other being Uma, consort of Shiva. In her youth, Indra had asked for Ganga to be given to heaven to soothe the Gods with its cool waters. The story of its descent to earth appears in slightly different forms in Ramayana (Bala Kanda: Vishwamitra narrates it to the child Rama), Mahabharata (Aranya Parba: Agastya narrates it to Rama), and in the Puranas. These myths are variously dated between 2000 to 400 BC (you may be interested in this over-detailed dateline for Rama's life). The general outline of the story is:

The king Sagara had two wives. By a favour of the lord Shiva, one wife bore him sixty thousand sons, all of whom were to die simultaneously, and the other bore him one son, Asamanjas, who would continue the dynasty. The sixty thousand sons grew to be great warriors, while the mighty Asamanjas caused so much misery to the populace that his father the king had to expel his own son, though a grandson, Ansuman, was left behind. King Sagara once performed the horse ceremony, in which a horse is allowed to roam at will, and is followed by warriors. Stopping the horse is a challenge to war; not stopping it is a compact of obeisance. In this instance, the sixty thousand sons were following the horse, but surprisingly, the horse was lost. After much recrimination, they dug up the entire earth and the underworld, the oceans, searching for the horse. Eventually it was found in a deep cavern, loitering close to where the sage Kapila sat in radiant meditation. The sons gathered the horse but they disturbed the great Kapila (Vasudeva), who was very annoyed, and instantly burnt them to ash with his fiery gaze.

Sagara heard of this fate through Narada, the heavenly wanderer, and sent the grandson Ansuman to undo the harm. Ansuman descended to the underworld and met Kapila, who was much pleased with the youth's bearing and conversation. He granted that the soulse of the sons of Sagara may be released by the waters of Ganga, then resident in heaven. Despite much austerity and prayer, neither Sagara, nor Ansuman after him, nor his son Dilipa, could get Ganga to appear on earth. Finally it was Dilipa's son Bhagiratha, who after severe austerities, propitiated the Goddess, and she agreed to come down to earth. However, the impact of her fall would be so severe, that it could be borne by none less than Shiva himself. Therefore Bhagiratha went into meditation again and obtained Shiva's consent after many more austerities. Finally, the river came down and fell into Shiva's matted hair, and thence to earth. This is the presumed site of the present-day temple at Gangotri. Bhagiratha led the way on horse back and the river followed. In this manner they reached the spot where lay the ashes of the six thousand sons. They were thus liberated, and an ocean formed from the waters there. This is the Sagar Island of today, where the Ganges flows into the Bay of Bengal ("Sagara' is also Sanskrit for ocean).

Many other tales are associated with the Ganga and points on it. Hari (Lord Vishnu) himself bathed in its waters at Haridwar, which is so holy that sins as great as the murder of Brahmins may be washed away by bathing here. Hindus to this day use the water of the Ganga to cleanse any place or object for ritual purposes. Bathing in the Ganga is still the lifelong ambition of many of India's believing masses, and they will congregate on its banks for the tremendously overcrowded Sangam, Sagar Mela or Kumbh Mela which are held on auspicious dates every few years.

The Ganges has many names associated with its many roles in Sanskrit mythology. Bhagiratha himelf is the source of the name Bhagirathi (of Bhagiratha), which is its initial stream, but is also another name for the Hooghly. At one point, Bhagiratha went too close to the sage Jahnu's meditation site, and the disturbed hermit immediately gulped up all the waters. Eventually, after more persuasion from Bhagiratha, the sage yielded the waters, but Ganges retained the name "Jahnavi". Another explanation for the same name is based on the word for knee in Sanskrit, Janu (akin to genus in latin), + the case form for "born of" yield Jahnavi; this is from a version of the story in which the saint released it through a slit at the knee.

Water from the Ganga has the recursive property that any water mixed with even the minutest quantity of Ganga water becomes Ganga water, and inherits its healing and other holy properties. Also, despite its many impurities, Ganga water does not rot or stink if stored for several days (This is true, I think, though it may have alternate explanations).

The Birth

There are several Hindu beliefs that give various versions of the birth of Ganga. According to one version, the sacred water in Brahma's Kamandalu (water-vessel) became personified as a maiden, Ganga. According to another (Vaishnavite) legend, Brahma had reverently washed the feet of Vishnu and collected this water in his Kamandalu. According to yet a third version, Ganga was the daughter of Himavan, king of the mountains, and his consort Mena; she was thus a sister of the goddess Parvati. Every version declares that she was raised in the heavens, under the tutelage of Brahma.

Ganga in Hinduism

In Hinduism, the river Ganga (Sanskrit and Hindi गंगा Gaṅgā) or Ganges River (as called by westerners) is considered sacred. It is worshipped by Hindus, and personified as a goddess in Hinduism, who holds an important place in the Hindu religion. Hindus believe that bathing in the river on certain occasions causes the remission of sins and facilitates the attainment of salvation. Many people believe that this effect obtains from bathing in Ganga at any time. People travel from distant places to immerse the ashes of their kin in the waters of the Ganga; this immersion also is believed to be meritorious as the ashes are believed to go to heaven. Several places sacred to Hindus lie along the banks of the river Ganga, including Haridwar, Allahabad and Varanasi.